This document outlines the general nutritional requirements of microbes. It discusses that microbes require an energy source, such as light or chemical compounds; an electron source, which can be organic or inorganic reduced compounds; and a carbon source, where autotrophs can use CO2 and heterotrophs require organic carbon. Microbes also require nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur and special nutrients like amino acids, nucleotides and cofactors. The document contrasts prototrophs, which can grow on minimal media, and auxotrophs, which require complex organic nutrients. It also briefly discusses nutrient transport processes and microbiological media types.